Art Gallery

Many of my writer friends find inspiration for their heros and heroines in actors and actresses or models. I have found that much of my inspiration comes from the world of art. In this "gallery," I share with you some of my favorite paintings and how they relate to my books. These are not exact representations of how I picture my characters. (For example, my heroine Mathilde has pale blonde hair, not red.) It is more the spirit than the specifics of these scenes that moves and inspires me. I hope you will enjoy them, too!

(As I find more pictures that remind me of my stories, I will add them to this gallery.)

Loyalty's Web

Cutout from the painting Lady Godiva, by Edmund Blair Leighton.

Heléne, my heroine from Loyalty's Web, wore her pale gold hair in 

one very long braid worn over her shoulder like this.

Samson, by Frederic Leighton

If you've watched the book trailer for Loyalty's Web, you will recognize this picture. 

Rachel Rossano, an author friend of mine and the talented lady who made my trailer, 

found this picture and used it to represent the Earl of Gunthar. I was unaware 

of this painting's existence, but as soon as I saw it in the trailer, I said, "Yes!"

Lancelot Slays the Caitiff Knight Sir Tarquin, by Frank Cadogan Cowper

In Loyalty's Web, I describe a clearing in the woods where Heléne and Clothilde 

and Therri and Etienne all played as children. Therri and Etienne pretended to be 

valiant knights fighting to win the hand of the beautiful Clothilde, while Heléne 

played Clothilde's lady-in-waiting. The people in this painting are not children, 

but perhaps this is how Clothilde imagined it all in her young mind.

Illuminations of the Heart

Tristan and Isolde, by Edmund Blair Leighton.

Something in the sweetness of this woman's face makes me think of Siri in 

Illuminations of the Heart. (Take the harp away, and the man could represent 

my hero, Triston, when he and Siri sat in the garden.) 

Dangerous Favor

God Speed, by Edmund Blair Leighton

Mathilde tying her favor around Etienne's arm before the tournament 

(even though her favor was a white ribbon, not a red scarf, in Dangerous Favor)

The Lady and the Minstrel

The Kiss, by Francesco Hayez

The first time I saw this, I thought of Robert and Marguerite's 

first kiss in The Lady and the Minstrel

Stitching the Standard, by Edmund Blair Leighton

Marguerite spends a lot of time embroidering in The Lady and the Minstrel, 

especially while Robert is off to war in France.

The Hostage, by Edmund Blair Leighton

This could be Marguerite gazing across the Channel, 

wondering how much longer it will be until Robert comes back to her.